Chapter song is Bellyache by Billie Eilish (Marian Hill Remix)

Thanks for reading!

-rednight73

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Paul's POV

Jared hadn't phased back in a long time. Sam was absolutely freaking out. I was exhausted and my chest felt fucking ripped open.

That just about summed up the night. Now it was morning. It was entirely too gorgeous of a day for what had just transpired.

We ran in unison around the border while Sam strategized who to send after Jared. He ignored my pessimistic prediction that another one of us would go missing. After my experience with Bella last night, I found myself becoming overly superstitious.

Voodoo and Paul do not mix.

I would miss Jared dearly.

For the love of god, don't think of him like that. Embry groaned. Being the most anxious of us, the kid was at his limits on stress.

I am like 99% sure I was in the presence of a ghost last night, Em. Death is just a natural stage of life and I do not think it harms any of us to prepare for the possibility-

Shhh. Shut up, dumbasses. Sam was suddenly on alert. His nose had picked up Jared along with a fresh scent that was on our land and utterly bizarre; Jared had to still be in human form. The last any of us remember his presence in the pack mind, the idiot had been an hour's run to Port Angeles.

As Sam traced the trail, something fast attacked him. It was on top of his back like he was a pony. How the fuck do you defend yourself against a piggy back ride?

"Hello." A full, bored voice sounded. "I am holding your pack-mate in my arms right now. It'd be terribly easy to snap his neck."

Sam stopped struggling. Don't come any closer. It wasn't an alpha order, but none of us dared disobey.

The assailant had the balls to bend over and look our alpha into the eyes. He was human pale, handsome, and had dark hair framing his face. A wry smile twisted his lips. Cold, stormy gray irises warned against any sudden moves.

"Now, I would like to speak to the one named Paul. I'm not feeling any burning hatred towards you when I look into your eyes, so I'm guessing you're not him. Could you ask the lad to come here? Phase back to human form once he's close?" He spoke in a formal manner.

I started running towards the scene before Sir Alpha could do something both brave and idiotic. I shifted without thought.

I walked slowly through the shrubbery once I was close to them. The last thing needed was for this bastard to have trigger hands around Jared's neck. I could only imagine how difficult it was for my pack brother not to shift.

It was not instantaneous enough to save him. Not if this stranger was as fast as a vamp.

The man was sitting casually on top of the black, snarling wolf that was Sam. He was sitting side-saddle with Jared pulled across his lap. He was at ease and swinging his legs like a child. It looked totally bizarre since the man was significantly smaller than us.

The relaxed smile on his lips warned me not to be fooled by that.

Jared's face was carefully blank with that pale hand poised strategically at the nape of his neck. There were healing wounds on his face and back.

"Ah, Paul. It's good to see how quick you are at following commands issued by me." The stranger said. His tone wasn't even intentionally insulting, but somehow I knew he meant exactly what he said.

A mild growl ripped through my chest. "Yes, I am. Can you please let Jared go?"

The stranger tsked like a condescending prick. "I am not in the mood for fighting four of you off of me. I am in enough trouble as it is."

"Who would punish you for this?" My mind was racing.

That smile grew to a shit-eating grin. "Do you not see the family resemblance, Paul Lahote? My baby sister is quite fond of you."

Holy shit. That man was basically Bella Swan but with a dick. The only difference was the testosterone and eye color.

"Why are you doing this?" I felt like I was swallowing gravel as I spoke.

Bella's male doppelgänger blinked at me. "Well I have to decide if I side with you or my sister. Things are about to get messy soon." Jared gagged when he tried to wrestle his head out of the man's hold. Sam growled.

"Side with who about what?"

"Bella is getting antsy with all that's going on. She's trying to make me interfere." He gestured towards me like I was some type of wayside science experiment gone awry.

"What?" I asked stupidly.

"You heard me. I make bond between Bella and dog go bye-bye." He spoke slowly. I saw red.

The dead man leaned forward to watch my reaction closer.

I found I really didn't give a fuck about Sam or Jared at that moment either.

I lunged forward in a streak. The little motherfucker laughed and threw Jared into a tree. Sam tried to get the bastard but he was too fast. We met in midair.

I'll attack anyone that gets in my way. Sam and Jared ceased moving at my declaration. I never bluffed.

I knew he would have more mobility than me; it was a given with the agility Bella had shown us the other day. But watching my imprint had given me some clues about what to do. It was obvious the man was planning on gutting me with whatever lay underneath his skin.

To my surprise, it was a broadsword nearly identical to Bella's.

If I didn't know any better, it appeared as though the fucker wanted to behead me with it. I waited until it was an inch to my neck and shifted back to human. Bella's brother blinked stupid at me and I grabbed the blade with my hand and pulled.

There was a satisfying crack of his jaw when I hit him and I shifted back the instant we hit the ground. He was underneath me now; the wolf's speciality in dealing with prey. He desperately pried my jaws apart with his hands while my claws swiped down his body.

I was surprised that he didn't scream. I almost could've sworn that laughter escaped his lips before something hit me. Hit me hard. I rolled with the impact and landed on all fours.

A very familiar, wild girl was on top of her brother, fists flying as he kept laughing. "You idiot! Where do you get off attacking my friends?" His facial bones were making horrific noises as they cracked from the tremendous blows.

Sam, Jared, Embry, and I all flinched. Ouch. It was a unison consensus of literal group think.

My anger fled my body at the sight of my gorgeous imprint. Bella suddenly stood up over the stranger. Her chest heaved from exertion and her own fists seemed to be healing from small fractures. She looked at the man with her nostrils flared.

His name is Drayer. Jared filled us all in on the conversation he had overheard.

Anguish flowed over me at the revelation that Bella wanted to leave me. It hurt more than anything I had encountered in the past decade.

"Do it, Drayer. It's Medora. I'm causing more harm here than good." Bella commanded shakily. Her heart was pounding.

Drayer swung to his feet gracefully. He smiled lazily at her. "It's not as bad as you think, Bell. I think there could be a defensive option here."

"Why? They shouldn't have to fight our bitch of a grandmother!" My imprint's body was becoming fuzzy at the edges. A pounding headache overcame me since I refused to look away. "Do what you promised you would. Make him forget me and we can leave!"

The last few words were mere echoes of what they should've been. Bella was no longer visible, even though her brother still looked calmly at the spot she was before.

"I'm sorry." He said softly, "I can't do that to you."

Bella's POV

Drayer's words rang in my ears hollowly. Of course he would hurt Paul even worse rather than harm me. Everyone here would die if we didn't do something. My brother's ignorance confounded me and made my stomach roll.

We could hardly protect our own people or our own children. Why would I believe him on this?

I clutched the gray fur in my hand fiercely and ran away from my idiot brother, Forks, the pack, and him. I would find someone to break our bond so that Paul would never feel the pain that permanently coursed through my veins. Then I would run for the rest of my life with the knowledge that he was safe.

My life at Forks or in Arizona was a small price for that.

I heard Drayer curse behind me and try to keep up. My gift only worked halfway on him. He always saw some after-shadow of me. Headaches never occurred either. Mom had always thought that it was because he could never hurt me.

Fortunately, Drayer had also taught me scouting tactics so getting away from him was possible. I made my presence feather light. I ducked and weaved through the trees. My breath minimized to the barest whisper. Ten minutes later, my brother lost my trail.

A wolf cried an agonizing howl.

I squashed guilt far into the deepest recesses of my mind. Some noise would need to be made to lead that fiery-haired vamp away from them. I pursed my lips. It would be tricky not to be caught by Drayer.

I'd head to Kentucky where a caster owed me a favor. I couldn't get killed with the bond so I'd have to be careful until then. A bond with a dead mate was maddening.

My lips burned where Paul had kissed me earlier. Like a brand or some kind of drug while tears slid down my face. I blame it on this display of weakness because then my infamously bad luck hit.

I heard something fast in the distance. The gait was wrong for a wolf and I would never hear Drayer coming for me. Shit. I wanted to lead Victoria away from Forks, but some control over the situation was everything. It was difficult to hide scent.

Taking a whiff in the air, a stream or river was my next stop. Either that, or I get ready for a fight. That vamp was hard to fight, she was the one who caught me last time and snapped my leg.

I collapsed to the ground to a cacophony of laughter. Blood dripped from my forehead onto the ballet studio floor that my clan had once owned. The vamps had been chasing me for awhile. The mistake of falling asleep, a necessity that I needed which they didn't, was my downfall.

The view of the floor disappeared when a cold hand gripped my hair and tugged. A perfect, terrifying face appeared in front of me. James smiled a fierce show of teeth towards me. They were too sharp. A crack split his face where my sword had slashed.

"You gave quite a run for a half-breed, Bella. The Cullens made it a challenge for me as well. Your blood..." His nostrils flared and eyes closed as if cherishing it. They then snapped back open. "Is delicious."

His booted foot slammed into my chest. My breath escaped my lungs in a sharp hiss and ribs cracked. It took all of my will power to stay silent.

A girly peal of laughter sounded from the corner of the room. "I'm so glad I shook those Cullens off of my trail so I could get a show like this."

I barely got my eyes open in time to see the flaming hair and beautiful face of the female. James' mate, Edward had told me. Victoria. Her black eyes glinted wickedly which let me know that she wouldn't mind a little snack.

She sped so fast towards me, my fevered mind couldn't keep up. Suddenly, my calf was at an odd angle in her dainty hands.

I finally screamed.

My heart pounded in fear from the memory as I weaved through the trees. I'd be totally screwed if I somehow bled. She would instantly know where I was.

Half of an hour passed when I finally landed in the river. I'd have to walk in it for some distance, walk off of it, and then switch directions back down the stream. I would abandon it after a day's sprint; I would be too tired to continue once my ploy was executed.

It was a bit of a weak trick; the monster would know that I would be heading straight towards the water. The best I could do was find as many sources as I could and not be consistent. The faintest sounds told me that she was still in pursuit.

Two days passed and I finally lost her, at least out of my hearing. I had to sleep. Why my gift didn't work on vamps was beyond me.

I settled my back against a tree. Almost immediately, sleep overcame me.

"Bellaaa... So nice of you to make this easy for me." That oddly girly voice sent chills down my spine.

I jolted. She wasn't there. Only the stars seemed to know where I was. I touched Paul's fur, now crafted into an anklet for safe-keeping, and guilt colored my mind briefly.

It had to be for his own good, right?

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Poor Paul :(

What did you think about Drayer telling Bella no?

Will she get caught by Medora?

When will Paul's Dad come into play?